Takasagoya — Hotel in Yamagata

I can’t state enough just how amazing my stay was here. After having a terrible experience at Omiya Ryokan, I came here and was welcomed with warm hands and the laughter of children.

The entire ryokan is family owned and operated. During dinner I was able to converse with the owner at length and she told me how all the food is locally sourced and gathered by family members (she personally forages all of the mushrooms!). She told me that at her ryokan they treat guests like family, and she wasn’t kidding. I told her I had a meeting later that night, and when I came back to the ryokan with some beer she scolded me and said I shouldn’t drink until after my meeting, haha. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Aside from the amazing service, the room was clean, futon was super comfy, TV was big (for a ryokan), and the biggest kicker was that the WiFi was FAST. It’s so rare to find ryokans that have good WiFi, so I was truly impressed.

Another big plus is that you can choose whether to have breakfast/dinner, whereas all other ryokans in the area force you to have it. As someone who never eats breakfast, this was a great choice to have.

Regarding onsens, you are given tickets to attend any of 4 onsens in the area FOR FREE. This includes the big outside onsen, and they will drive you to and from it if you don’t want to walk.

Just a perfect experience that I can’t wait to relive whenever I...

Excellent hospitality from the lovely family at the ryokan. Owner was very hospitable and speaks good English. ||Room was comfortable for 2 - sleeping on futons with good heating in the room. Very fast WiFi accessible throughout the inn as well.||There is a public bath in the ryokan with onsen but take note not the natural sulphur ones. There are 3 free public baths around the inn but the size is similar to that in the ryokan and with no bathing facilities. I’d recommend skipping those and opt for the paid ones with outdoor onsen and better facilities. Most of them close by 630pm in winter. ||We opted for breakfast which was a sumptuous spread. The male owner(?) noticed I brought a packet of milk down and offered us additional glasses for the milk. Very thoughtful. ||Location was 3min walk from the bus station and 5min walk to the Zao Ski resort / cableway. There is a Lawson 5min walk from the inn and several eating places. One ramen place he recommended just opened 24 Dec ‘19 - it was yummy and just a 4min walk away and opened till 10pm.||Summary: highly recommended for anyone looking for a place to stay in...

Excellent hospitality from the lovely family at the ryokan. Owner was very hospitable and speaks good English.

Room was comfortable for 2 - sleeping on futons with good heating in the room. Very fast WiFi accessible throughout the inn as well.

There is a public bath in the ryokan with onsen but take note not the natural sulphur ones. There are 3 free public baths around the inn but the size is similar to that in the ryokan and with no bathing facilities. I’d recommend skipping those and opt for the paid ones with outdoor onsen and better facilities. Most of them close by 630pm in winter.

We opted for breakfast which was a sumptuous spread. The male owner(?) noticed I brought a packet of milk down and offered us additional glasses for the milk. Very thoughtful.

Location was 3min walk from the bus station and 5min walk to the Zao Ski resort / cableway. There is a Lawson 5min walk from the inn and several eating places. One ramen place he recommended just opened 24 Dec ‘19 - it was yummy and just a 4min walk away and opened till 10pm.

Summary: highly recommended for anyone looking for a place to stay in...